KOI Finds LADI in Arrears of Doping Sample Test Fee to Qatar Lab

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) Secretary-General Ferry J Kono said the committee started to see the light on the sanctions imposed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) against the Indonesian Anti-Doping Agency (LADI).

After attending an online meeting led by the Secretary of the Youth and Sports Ministry Gatot S Dewa Broto on Thursday, Ferry said that based on the results of the preliminary investigation, KOI found out 24 pending matters needed to be met by LADI, including arrears of the doping sample test fee to laboratories in Qatar.

“We cannot explain the details, but in general, it is about administrative and technical matters. We push LADI to resolve pending matters to obtain compliance status as soon as possible,” said Ferry in a press release on Thursday, October 21.

He said KOI is still exploring the factors behind the arrears. “But this is an urgent situation, so the government agreed to pay it first, while the investigation continues and LADI completes technical matters that need to be resolved,” Ferry explained.

Indonesia still needs to send samples abroad, such as to Qatar, as it does not have a standardized anti-doping laboratory to date.

Ferry asked the public not to be easily provoked by rumors. KOI and the Youth and Sports Ministry are striving to collect accurate information and speed up communication and synergy with domestic stakeholders, as well as lobbying with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

In early October 2021, LADI received a warning from WADA for not complying with the world anti-doping code, which put Indonesia at risk of losing its rights in international sports until the next year.

Other than being barred from hoisting the national flag Merah Putih as occurred in the 2020 Thomas Cup celebration stage, Indonesia also has the potential to be banned from hosting regional, continental, world championships, or other major events.

Meanwhile, Indonesia was scheduled to host a number of international events, such as the World Superbike or WSBK Championships in Mandalika of Lombok in November 2021, three BWF badminton tournaments in Bali in November-December 2021, and MotoGP in March 2022.

Read: How Wada's Anti-doping Notice Could Affect MotoGP WSBK races in Mandalika

ANTARA